Espresso On Lodge

ESPRESSO ON LODGE HAS CLOSED AND BEEN REPLACED BY LILYPAD ESPRESSO.

Espresso on Lodge a gem of a child-friendly café with inbuilt play area and attached toy shop in a historic weatherboard Wooloowin shop.

Every parent with a young one wishes they had one of these at the end of the street – a place to pop in after the morning rush, young ones in tow and enjoy a cooked breakfast and decent cup of coffee while the children play.

Owner Suzie has created a space where parents can relax and children can go free range while under supervision thanks to the gated play zone with cubby house, play kitchen and toys attached to the café.

Coffee here is from Epica, fresh brewed tea is available all day and out of the small kitchen comes an extensive menu of breakfast and lunch options. Start the day with anything from a fresh squeezed juice and avo on toast or egg, bacon and spinach wrap to the full hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash brown, chipolata, tomato and ciabatta. Then for lunch there’s lasagne and salad, soups in winter and other tasty options.

Those who just want a snack will find a fridge full of muffins, slices of cake etc ( grown-ups have cake and coffee deals) and for kids yet to get into the café zone there’s mini bags of potato chips for sale. Or they can partake in the kids menu with choices like spaghetti or baked beans with a small cup of Emma & Tom’s apple or orange juice.

With regards to the toy shop, it stocks a great range of Haba toys, puzzles and games and other quality playstuff.

Need to know: Outside the café is a tie-up dog area with water bowl and a short stroller away is one of the north side’s most charming parks for young ones – Melrose Park.